any tropical American carnivore of the genus Nasua, related to the raccoon, having an elongated body, long, ringed tail, and a slender, flexible snout.
co·a·ti (kō-ä'tē) n.
pl.coati or co·a·tis Any of four species of omnivorous mammals of the genera Nasua or Nasuella of South and Central America and the southwest United States, related to and resembling the raccoon but having a longer snout and tail.
[Spanish coatí and Portuguese coati, from Tupi : cua, belt + tim, nose.]